I am not opposed to buying greeting cards, yet sometimes the creative writers at Hallmark can’t possibly pen the personalized message you’d like to send. Spend 15 minutes of time and use fabric from your stash to create a paper-pieced postcard, then add your heartfelt message—short or long.

If you’ve never tried paper piecing, here’s a very simple project to give you the confidence to sew!

Paper Piecing Tutorial

Cut Fabrics:

For each postcard/block you’ll need scraps from three coordinating fabrics:

Medium/Heart: (1) 1-1/2″ x 2-1/4″, (1) 2-1/4″ x 3-1/4″

Light/background: (3) 1-1/4″ x 1-1/4″, (2) 1-3/4″ x 3″

Dark/Borders: (2) 1-1/4″ x 3-1/2″, (2) 2″ x 5″

Basic paper piecing concepts:

Numbers in the design sections indicate the sequence in which fabric sections are joined.

Place all fabrics on the unprinted side of the paper starting with the center section.

Add fabric sections to the design in numerical sequence, right sides together.

Stitch on the right side of the paper, following the marked lines on the paper.

Position the next pattern piece.

Stitch section in place, sewing from the right side of the paper and following the marked lines. Press fabric to cover seam.

Repeat the positioning, stitching, and pressing until all sections are added.

Paper Piece the Heart Block:

Place fabric section 1 behind the corresponding area on the paper pattern, with wrong side of the fabric meeting unprinted side of the paper. Optional: Pin fabric in place from printed side of the paper.

Meet the edge of fabric section 2 to fabric 1, right sides together.

From the printed side of the paper, stitch along the line (between 1 & 2) joining the two sections, starting and ending a stitch or two beyond the line.

Press fabric to cover seam.

Meet the edge of fabric section 3 to fabric 1, right sides together.

From the printed side of the paper, stitch along the line (between 1 & 3) joining the two sections.

Press fabric to cover the seam. A mini-iron works so well on small projects.

Repeat the process for each of the remaining 11 pieces.

With the printed side of the paper facing up, trim block along outside line.

Cut a piece of cardstock the same size as the heart block. The back side of a repurposed greeting card works great!

Love Your Heart—A Heart Healthy Program

Since February, valentines and hearts all go together, I’d like to share a great program designed by UW Health. Take just five minutes a day to show your heart—and yourself—a little love this February with their 28 Days 28 Way to Love Your Heart. I know the program was designed to be followed the 28 days of February, but I say, start today and continue all year!

19 Comments

Ronda Halvorsen-FernsFebruary 11, 2015

Thanks so much Nancy! I have just the right fabrics in mind, the littles will love them. Also, wanted to congratulate Miss Genni Rettke on your Ninety-first birthday, I hope it was a day filled with wonderful blessings, Genni!

Such a sweet and personal card! Thanks for the pattern and instructions!

Charlote sturgillFebruary 16, 2014

Thanks for this cute, quick valentines project! I think I’ll make it into a “Garden flag” for my front porch!! Sincerely, Charlote S.

Sandra NettlesFebruary 12, 2014

You are so generous in sharing!

Brenda KFebruary 11, 2014

thank you for the free project. I sewed one in short time, for my 3 year old Grandaughter, for a “dolly placemat” and sent it to her in the mail with a valentine.

Genni RettkeFebruary 12, 2014

To Brenda K. What a sweet idea. Bet your granddaughter will be thrilled. Genni

EllieFebruary 9, 2014

Thank you Nancy,

I enlarged the pattern and paper-pieced the heart
for my front door. Quick and good looking too.

Joanie MaskeFebruary 9, 2014

As cute as it is, I thought it was difficult with out written instructions:(

Shirl RFebruary 9, 2014

I’ve never tried paper piecing so this sweet project will just be a wonderful place to start. Thank you! To those who might want to print the tutorial, I right-clicked on an area of the tutorial (other than a picture) and it will bring up options, two being “Print” and “Print Preview”. If you then click on Print Preview, you should see a pdf file. From there you can choose Print. That’s how I printed my copy. I, too, like to have a paper copy in hand when making a project.

Genni RettkeFebruary 8, 2014

This is a great idea, and thanks for the pattern. I am 91 yrs. Old (today) and live in an independent-living apt. Bldg. For people over 55. We leave cards at each others’ doors for birthdays. I have been machine embroidering designs on silk dupioni and fusing them to the front of the card. One friend framed a rooster I did, and another called me to say” that’s one card I won’t be throwing away.” I’m sure the paper-pieced cards will be a big hit, too.

Pat G.February 8, 2014

Thanks for the pattern and Valentine idea. I just received a beautiful Valentine in the mail today from a friend who is a ‘Scrap-booker’ and now I can send her one from a quilter.

Shelly ChristensenFebruary 8, 2014

This is very cute and so easy, Thanks for sharing this!!

TootsieFebruary 8, 2014

I would love to get something like this in the mail.

Mary AnnFebruary 8, 2014

Is there a PDF for the tutorial instructions? The download file only has the pattern to print. I’ve never done paper piecing and a step-by-step would be helpful to refer to.
Thank you for the sweet design.

LynnFebruary 8, 2014

I just got a new serger from your retail store. This will be a great project to make for my husband. I may have to stitch the pieces but I will serge the edges for a timely Valentine!
How about the Wave stitch?

LynnFebruary 8, 2014

I just got a new serger from your retail store. This will be a great project to make for my husband. I may have to stitch the pieces but I will serge the edges for a timely Valentine!

Thank you so much for this pattern, i need this in my class on the subject TLE. Clothing & Textiles &Arts and Crafts. This will facilitate the skills that will be taken from the pattern . Its so timely for my subject which I am teaching.

Julie BarnettFebruary 8, 2014

Thank you for this pattern. My daughter is in college and we like to send something every month. No one else, family or friends, sends anything. This will be on top of other things we try to send which also makes me think I can make a postcard each month with a different item, St Pat day, Easter, etc. It’ll be great.